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For other uses, see Curse (disambiguation).

A curse is the effective action of supernatural power, distinguished solely by the quality of adversity that it brings, else it would be considered a "charm" or a "blessing." A curse may also be said to result from a spell or prayer, imprecation or execration, or other imposition by magic or witchcraft, asking that a god, natural force, or spirit bring misfortune to someone.

The forms of curses found in various cultures comprise a significant proportion of the study of both folk religion and folklore.

In a broader sense, 'curse' is a loose synonym for blasphemy or profanity (i.e. a "curse word.")

"The curse" is also a term for the original sin of Adam and Eve in the Christian religion and a slang term for menstruation.

Philosophy and Religion

Belief in curses is found in many cultures and is mentioned in the scriptures of many religions.

Most established religions forbid such practices outright, but others, citing the long history of scriptural curses, utilize them only in defense against evil that struck at them first. All religions offer forms of blessings of homes and objects and people, with the intent of removing curses. Typically then a curse is only a category or type of something much larger, namely the entirety of any given culture's religio-magical paradigm.

Moreover, when negative or painful spiritual possession and demonic possession are viewed as varieties of curse, the religious authorities may see to it that there is a sanctioned way for the curse to be removed. (Factoid: the original staff of the Vatican, according to Catholic records, included 300 full time exorcists, that is, specialists in the removal of demons inhabiting humans.)

Some people believe curses to be strictly psychological in effect and/or superstitious in nature; these people generally hold rationalist opposing viewpoints to the opinion that curses are actual and real.

Folk Use

The deliberate levying of curses is often part of the practice of magic, taking place at the boundary between organized religion and folkloric customs.

Special names for specific types of curses can be found in various cultures:

African American hoodoo presents us with the jinx and crossed conditions, as well as a form of foot track magic, whereby cursed objects are layed in the paths of victims and activated when walked over.

Middle Eastern and Mediterranean cutlture is the original home-base for belief in the evil eye, which may be the result of envy but, more rarely, is said to be the result of a deliberate curse.

Germanic people, including the Pennsylvania Dutch speak in terms of hexing (from the german word for witchcraft), and a common hex in days past was that laid by a stable-witch who caused milk cows to go dry and horses to go lame. .

Curses in the Bible

Some passages in the Tanakh treat curses as being effective techniques; they see a curse as an objective reality with real power. However, most sections of the Bible conceive a curse to be merely a wish, to be fulfilled by God only when just and deserved.

According to the Book of Proverbs, an undeserved curse has no effect (Proverbs 26:2), but may fall back upon the head of him who utters it (Genesis] 12:3; Sirach 21:27), or may be turned by God into a blessing (Deuteronomy 23:5).

The declaration of punishments (Gen. 3:14, 17; 4:11), the utterance of threats (Jeremiah 11:3, 17:5; Malachi i. 14), and the proclamation of laws (Deut. 11:26-28, 27:15 et seq.) received added solemnity and force when conditioned by a curse.

In the Bible, cursing is generally characteristic of the godless (Ps. 10:7), but may serve as a weapon in the mouth of the wronged, the oppressed, and those who are zealous for God and righteousness (Judges 9:57; Prov. 11"26, 30:10).

A righteous curse, especially when uttered by persons in authority, was believed to be unfailing in its effect (Gen. 9:25, 27:12; II Kings 2:24; Ecclus. 3:11). One who had received exemplary punishment at the hands of God was frequently held up, in cursing, as a terrifying object-lesson (Jer. 23: 22), and such a person was said to be, or to have become, a curse (II Kings 22:19; Jer. 24:9, 25: 18; Zechariah 8:13). An elaborate trial by ordeal for a woman suspected by her husband of adultery is set forth in Numbers 5:11-30; this involved drinking a "bitter water that brings a curse"; if the woman were guilty, she would suffer miscarriage and infertility.

It is especially forbidden to curse God (Exodus 22:28), parents (Ex. 21:17; Leviticus 20:9; Prov. 20:20, 30: 11), the authorities (Ex. 22:28; Eccl. 10:20), and the helpless deaf (Lev. 19:14).

Curses in Rabbinic Literature

A number of sections of the Talmud show a belief in the power of curses (Berachot 19a, 56a.) In some cases, a curse is described as related to the nature of a prayer (Ta'an. 23b); an undeserved curse is described as ineffective (Makkot 11a) and falls back upon the head of him who utters it (Sanhedrin 49a).

Not only is a curse uttered by a scholar unfailing in its effect, even if undeserved (Mak. 11a), but one should not regard lightly even the curse uttered by an ignorant man (Meg. 15a).

The Biblical prohibitions of cursing are legally elaborated, and extended to self-cursing (Shebu. 35a). A woman that curses her husband's parents in his presence is divorced and loses her dowry (Ket. 72a).

Cursing may be permissible when prompted by religious motives. For instance, a curse is uttered against those who mislead the people by calculating, on the basis of Biblical passages, when the Messiah will come (Sanhedrin 97b). Cursed are those who are guilty of actions which, though not forbidden, are considered reprehensible.

According to legend, some rabbinic scholars cursed sometimes not only with their mouths, but also with an angry, fixed look. The consequence of such a look was either immediate death or poverty (Sotah 46b, and parallel passages). (See Evil eye)

Ancient Greek and Roman Curses

Greek and Roman curses were somewhat formal and official. Called katadesmoi by the Greeks and tabulae defixiones by the Romans, they were written on lead tablets or other materials, generally invoked the aid of a spirit (a deity, a demon, or one of the dead) to accomplish their aim, and were placed in some place considered effective for their activation, such as in a tomb, cemetery, or sacred spring or well.

In the text of katadesmoi and defixiones, the petitioner uttered a prayer or formula that the enemy would suffer injury in some specific way, along with the reason therefor, such as theft or loss of respect.

The Romans, Etruscans, and Greeks in Italy all practiced this custom. Fortunately for us, they buried the curses so well that today we have a body of curse inscriptions to tell us how they practiced their harmful magical works.

Curses in the Qur'an

See main article Curses in Islam

The Qur'an, verse Surah 33, verse 68:

"Our Lord! Give them double Penalty and curse them with a very great Curse!"

Cursed Places

Certain objects or places are said to be cursed. Sometimes, the curse was allegedly laid with a purpose; the "Curse of the Pharaohs" is supposed to have haunted the archaeologists who excavated the tomb of Pharaoh Tutankhamen, whereby an imprecation was supposedly pronounced on anyone who violated its precincts by the ancient Egyptian priests.

Cursed People

Tecumseh's curse was reputed to cause the deaths in office of Presidents of the United States elected in years divisible by 20, beginning in 1840 (this alleged curse appears to have fallen dormant in 1980, as President Ronald Reagan, elected that year, did not die in office).

Sports-related curses

A number of curses are used to explain the failures or misfortunes of specific sports teams or players. For example, the Curse of the Billy Goat is used to explain the failures of the Chicago Cubs baseball team, who have not won a championship since 1908. Players who appear on the covers of either the Sports Illustrated magazine or the Madden NFL video game have tended to coincidently suffer setbacks or injuries.

Cursed Objects

Cursed objects are generally supposed to have been stolen from their rightful owners or looted from a sanctuary. The Hope Diamond is supposed to bear such a curse, and bring misfortune to its owner.

Cursed News Groups

The news group alt.religion.angels was cursed by an Internet troll approximately one year after it's inception. The troll's original intentions were to attempt to fool the particpants into believing that he was speaking on a regular basis with angels. The attempt was foiled almost immediately by one of the regular participants who died before the troll could satisfy either his claims or make apologies. The troll, thus obsessed, swore vengeance and cursed the news group to be ruined by his presence for the remainder of his life. Some would argue that the troll himself has been cursed to remain by the ghost of the former participant whom won't allow him to rest until his apologies have been made.

See: Origin of the Curse of alt.religion.angels

Fraudulent Curses

Some people claiming to be gifted in magic or witchcraft set up business to exploit fears, in order to profitably separate victims from their money. This has been a very large part of the mythos (and bad reputation) of the modern day Romani people (Gypsies), as well as Voodoo and Santaria priests.

References

Curse tablets and Binding Spells from the Ancient World by John G. Gager ISBN 0-19-506226-4
Maledicta: The International Journal of Verbal Aggression ISSN US 0363-3659

External links

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